.22 problem?

If the barrel is pitted that could be your problem. How far are you shooting Art. A Crosman pellet rifle is pretty accurate out to 45-50 yards. Pellets are cheap and not as much sound. I did see my niece’s husband get scoped by one once though.

I read about some 22 rifles that get stored on a gun rack in a horizontal fashion.    Seems the unburned powder and residue over time can gather on the bottom of the chamber and throat of the gun.  Why?   Gravity.     I suppose that over a long time the build up can cause the condition written.      Do you store this gun on a horizontal rack.....or standing in the corner?  


I'm curious.  After shooting the gun....carefully remove the spent cartridge and report where the gas cutting is taking place.    If the foregoing theory is correct.....you just gotta clean that damn gun Art.  

I seldom shoot an accurate centerfire gun more than 20 rounds without cleaning.    I may not clean a 22 rifle for 200 or so rounds.....but they all need some cleaning at times. 

Buy one of those bore snakes and run it through the gun from breech to crown a few times.   Viola.    If you have not cleaned the gun in a few decades.....then you gotta soak some gun cleaning chem's on that bore a while and let it work......then clean the bore with what ever you got.    I thought JPS knew about such chit.   . 

What about the idea of the cartridge sealing to the chamber during the shot due to pressure (seems like there is a name for that but I forget)?  Am I off base to think the old ammo might be lower velocity and not creating enough pressure, or does a .22 even function this way?  I would like to learn something here so I might be asking some hairbrained questions.  

. It is a Remington bolt. I suspect the shells are about 8-10 years old.

I was shooting about 50 paces. The last rabbit I killed at that distance needed some Kentucky windage. It doesn’t seem like it shoots as flat as when the shells were new.

I will clean the barrel and exam the chamber. Heck, I might even need to buy new shells! That old shell idea of yours is part of it.

My eyesight is a big part of it. I once had 15 plus consecutive one shot deer kills. I am not even close to that anymore. Time for cataract surgery, I know.

Hard to believe that 10 year old ammo is loosing any of its punch.    I have some 22 ammo from the 1950's that still has the same velocity as new.  Most of my 22 ammo is getting quite old.....10 to 30 years old.    I doubt that any has deteriorated to any extent.   Different in black powder days.  

It would be hard to wear out a 22 rifle with normal shooting done by most folks.  I have seen some carnival guns that have worn out barrels.....but not many owned by individuals that will wear out a barrel.   Lead is pretty soft therefore the low wear.    You can get some flame cutting at the the throat (also called leade, lands, and other terms) over time.   That throat is the critical part of any gun and the area to focus on when cleaning.  If it's rough or full of waxy powder residue it can affect the bullet's entry to the rifling. Get the residue that remains in the firing process out of the throat and the case and bullet will most often seat properly in the chamber and enter the origins of the rifling properly.   

Then too....with a loose chamber the cartridge tends to lay on the floor of the chamber and upon the firing pin striking one side of the cartridge it moves during the filing process.   That is why a tight fitting chamber will most often shoot better than one that is worn.    My 2 cents.  

Also, the crown of the barrel is pretty important to accuracy.   If the crown shows wear or any dings....it allows the gas pressure to escape at that point and can "tip" the bullet slightly upon exiting the barrel.  One reason many benchers shooters like flat based bullets as they tend to be more uniform at the base.  Lots of this is subjective thoughts.   

When I sold accuracy accessories (bullet seating and chamber gauges) I always told folks that a reloader needed to control how the bullet entered the barrel and exited the barrel.....the rest was up to the the gunsmith and the guy operating the trigger.   .  FORE!

Also maybe try different brand shells if you can find any. You know the story, guns shoot different brands better than others.